Challenge Cup was fine the way it was. If they wanted to expand it, invite more HL/LL teams.
Now it is four varying levels competitions in one (under 20s, leagues 1 to 3, HL & LL fodder, plus the Irish and Welsh invitees), and it is a clusterfukk monstrosity.
Teams seeded in opening three rounds. Irish and Welsh parachuted in at round four (so play three games, and win it).
How does the seeding work? For example, are the Premier League teams (under 20's) rated higher or lower than the First Division (or championship as they call it now) teams? Who decides this? There is a catalog of fallacies and ill thought out reasoning to this monstosity of a competition. For example, St Mirren under 20s finished fifth in the development squad league - yet their first team obviously finished lower in the league structure. Look on P & B and there is almost wholesale condemnation and WTF reactions to what Cockwomble and his working group committee have forced on the clubs. That's from fans of all clubs, from your premier league to seaside leagues, and all in between. There has been NO consultation with the clubs, let alone the fans. Clubs were told the day before the announcement what form the Challenge Cup would take on this coming season. There is no excitement at fans going to see likes of Killie under 20s v Elgin, Falkirk v Dingwall under 20s or Stranraer v Caley under 20's, or any other such ties that could be thrown up. And then what about the Welsh or Irish games, how many fans are realistically going to travel to it? Look at Bath for example, nice away trip, would like to go, but costs are hefty to say the least.
Look at the under 20's - where will they play their games? Hardly any of the Premier League teams play their under 20's at their own ground, often using other clubs grounds or even training complexes - and they are all invariably free entry - so, what they going to charge for them in the Challenge cup? Then there is the talk about if a player is on a development loan, and his parent club is drawn against his loan club, which team is he allowed to play for? Then there is the extension of thought whereby under 20 loans could diminish in number, as parent clubs hold on to more youngsters instead of sending out on loan, and even if that loan is delayed for only to end of the month of August, that's anything between 8 and 12 games youngsters could miss out on, playing alongside more experienced and physical players (minimum league cup x 4, league games 4 or 5, plus several potential Challenge Cup games) where they could be playing at a lower league team getting first team action, as opposed to being retained and maybe only featuring in one or two Challenge cup games, where they will be playing alongside a whole team of less experienced and less physical players against a whole team of more experienced and physical players - hardly a fair match up, or a means to help them get more experience as Cockwombles statements laughingly claim.
Then there is the costs - we all know how hard it is for clubs to make money from Challenge Cup games in the past, and it's only negligibly financially beneficial if a club reaches the final or semis. If crowds are already low for these ties, do Cockwomble & Co think they are going to rise with this new format? From what I gather, crowds of new lows are predicted such is the kickback from the "diddy clubs" fans. Players will still need to be paid appearance money. Win bonuses, goal bonuses, clean sheet bonuses, whatever they have in their contracts. Clubs will have to fork out their usual matchday costs, for games that will in the majority, likely see well below their average attendance. Whether that's travelling or hosting the game, stewarding, policing, ground staff, electricity, and the whole long list of associated match costs. Will the gates be split? I could go on and on, but will bring this to a close soon, fact is, there is so much wrong with this format, with very little and negligible benefit to only a few clubs, and the Challenge Cup is going to be more financially burdening than beneficial to the majority of clubs, no matter how few or how many matches they end up playing in it.
Will wrap this up, with the following thought. The introduction of the Under 20s is for one reason and one reason alone. This is the precursor to bring in, initially by stealth, two colt teams in particular, into the league set up. Cockwomble and his working commitee group (reps of Cellic, the Sheep (who always roll over for two clubs), Downdee Utd (to be replaced by a Sevco rep), Alloa, Raith and Brechin) want to see these two odious clubs have colt teams in lower leagues. By this starting point, they can in future use this precedent to force through their main goal.
The best thing that can happen (even though it will initially hurt their own clubs) is to not go to any of these Challenge Cup games, and let it die on it's arse. It is now a batshit mental bonkers competition devalued by seeding, under 20s vs big brute teams, the Irish and Welsh teams viewed as being the highest seeded as they come in last, it is a complete (and ongoing) reflection of Cockwombles dumbing down and talking down of our game. The sooner he gets sacked and chased, the better.
